Drive for Five still accepting donations to fund new library construction in Oneida

Library Board of Trustees President Patricia Albaugh talks about the new library during the 90th birthday celebration of the Oneida Public Library on Sunday, April 27, 2014.
JOHN HAEGER-ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER

ONEIDA >> The Oneida Public Library’s 90th anniversary decorations are put away, and the Drive for 5 fundraiser over, but there’s still plenty to celebrate, say event organizers.

“The Drive for 5 was a great success,” said Carol Butler, spokesperson for the library capital campaign. “We are still taking in contributions, as well as counting bottles and cans.”

The goal was to raise $500,000 last weekend during the OPL’s 90th birthday celebration in order to help offset construction costs for a new $5 million library planned for a site on Main and Elizabeth streets.

Butler expects to have solid figures from the Drive for 5 fundraiser by next week, but in the meantime said the library is “still taking contributions and will happily do so forever.”

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The library plans to continue seeking contributions from Oneida area businesses, physicians, organizations and residents who want to “invest in our city,” Butler said.

“With all of the new restaurants, the Rail Trail, Taste of Oneida, and many who are eagerly working to improve our city - not the least of which is our own Mayor Max Smith, Assemblyman Bill Magee and Sen. David Valesky - I believe now is the time to invest in the new library, because it will make our city a place where people want to live and be proud to say they are from,” Butler said.

Amid a number of activities at the library, the Community Car Wash on Route 5 in Sherrill and Upper Lenox Avenue in Oneida donated 20 percent of its proceeds collected during the period of April 20 to April 26.

About the Author

Jolene Cleaver is a staff writer at the Oneida Dispatch. Her coverage focuses on crime, government and community events. Reach the author at jcleaver@oneidadispatch.com
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